Rebecca Grassl Bradley, U.W. 1996, has been appointed to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court by Gov. Scott Walker. She formerly was with Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., Milwaukee.

G. Michael Halfenger, Chicago 1991 with honors, has been appointed a bankruptcy judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. He previously was a partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, Milwaukee.

Peter Helf, U.W. 2012 cum laude, has joined Peckerman, Klein & Van Kirk, Milwaukee, as an associate and focuses on family law.

Christopher “CJ” Murray, Marquette 2006, has been promoted to shareholder at Beck, Chaet, Bamberger & Polsky S.C., Milwaukee, and continues to focus on receiverships, creditor/debtor matters, and business law and litigation.

Todd A. Nova, U.W. 2004, has been named a shareholder at the Milwaukee office of Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman and continues to practice primarily in health care law.

Patton C. Prunty, William Mitchell 2004, has joined VanDerHeyden Law Office P.A., Rochester, Minn., as an associate practicing in creditor-collection matters. He previously worked for the Minnesota Third Judicial District.

Michael Jon Puerner, Marquette 2011, has joined Pruhs & Donovan S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate and focuses on criminal defense and general civil litigation.

Monica Riederer, U.W. 2001, has joined Northwestern Mutual as assistant general counsel on the investment products and services team. She previously was with Hansen Riderer Dickinson Crueger & Reynolds LLC, Milwaukee.

Peter J. Rindal, U.W. 2009, has joined Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci S.C. and focuses on business, estate planning, criminal defense, and municipal law matters in the Black River Falls and Eau Claire offices. He previously was the Monroe County assistant district attorney.

Appointments, Elections

Jason Gerlach, U.W. 1996, has been elected president of the California Hedge Fund Association. He is managing director of Sunrise Capital Partners, San Diego.

Timothy T. Kay, Marquette 1984, has been elected municipal judge for the Lake Country Municipal Court, located in Waukesha County. He maintains a private general practice, Kay & Kay Law Firm, Brookfield.

Benjamin Wagner, U.W. 2003, has been elected to the Wisconsin Association for Justice board. He is with the Milwaukee office of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C.

C. Thomas Sylke, U.W. 1985, presented a program on patent and other gaming-industry intellectual property issues to the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries in Orlando, Fla. He is principal of Sylke Law Offices LLC, with offices in Milwaukee and the Silicon Valley.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Lt. Col. Robyn Blader, U.W. 1995, and Major Michael Gould, Virginia 1994, have been awarded Bronze Star Medals for meritorious service in Afghanistan. Blader is with the Wisconsin National Guard's 505th Trial Defense Team, Madison, and practices with Blader Law Office LLC, Wautoma. Gould is with the U.S. Army Reserve and was honored for his work as chief of detainee operations, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435.

Michael F. Hupy, Marquette 1972, received an honorary service award at the Center for Teaching Entrepreneurship (CTE) Harvest of Hope Dinner in Milwaukee in December, for his 17 years' service on the CTE's board and his leadership as CTE board president. He is with Hupy and Abraham S.C., Milwaukee.

The Hon. Chad G. Kerkman, U.W. 1997, received the Governor's Champion of Adoption Award at the annual Governor's Outstanding Adoptive Parent award ceremony at the State Capitol in November. He sits on the Kenosha County Circuit Court.

Thomas Kyle, Hamline 1996, has satisfied the requirements to be designated a Master Advocate by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. He is with Pitman, Kyle, Sicula & Dentice S.C., Milwaukee.

Bruce A. Lanser, Marquette 1982, has been elected a fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy. He is owner of Lanser Law Office, Waukesha, concentrating in representation of individual and small-business debtors in bankruptcy cases, and also is a Chapter 7 panel trustee.

The Hon. Marshall B. Murray, New England 1986, was named Jurist of the Year by the Justinian Society of Lawyers at a ceremony in Milwaukee in October. He sits on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

Tom Olejniczak, Marquette 1974, received the Darwin Nelson Community Service Award from Wisconsin Business Development in recognition of his assistance to small business and community programs, including the NEW Community Shelter, Casa ALBA Melanie-Hispanic Community Resource Center of Green Bay, and the Green Bay Packers board. He is a managing partner with Liebmann, Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry S.C., Green Bay.

Francis D. Schmitz, Marquette 1983, received the Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service for his work on several investigations conducted in Washington, D.C. on behalf of Attorney General Eric Holder. He is a senior litigation counsel with the Office of the U.S. Attorney, Milwaukee.

Vicki Seltun, William Mitchell 1992, received the John Kell Making a Difference Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin in November. She is with Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci S.C., Eau Claire.

Daniel D. Cary, U.W. 1995, and Miriam S. Falk, U.W. 1985, are recipients of the Wisconsin District Attorneys' Association 2012 State Prosecutor of the Year awards. Cary, Monroe County district attorney, was selected as the 2012 State District Attorney of the Year. Falk, a Milwaukee County assistant district attorney, was selected as the 2012 State Assistant District Attorney of the Year.

Pro Bono, Public Service

Foley & Lardner LLP has become the first Gold Founding Member of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

Godfrey & Kahn S.C. has announced its 2012 Fellowship in Law recipients, Maria De Arteaga, a first-year student at the U.W. Law School, and Paul Staisiunas, a first-year student at Marquette University Law School. The fellowship program, under which recipients receive full three-year scholarships, mentoring, and summer associate positions, is designed to promote diversity at the U.W. and Marquette law schools.

Retirements

Michael J. Bruch, Marquette 1967, has retired as a Milwaukee County family court commissioner.